About the Triangle, North Carolina Area  "The Triangle", is a geographical region in the Piedmont of North Carolina anchored by the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill all of which have renowned research university complexes. The research universities are the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and Duke University in Durham. Connect those 3 points on a map, and you get a triangle.
The "Triangle" name was cemented in the public consciousness in the 1950s with the creation of Research Triangle Park, home to numerous high-tech companies and enterprises. As a result of the strong university influence,premier business climate and major medical facilities, the Triangle’s population is among the most educated in the United States, with one of the highest number of PhD’s per capita.
The fourth municipality of current importance is Cary, which started out as a small bedroom community, but has gradually emerged as a major suburban city in its own right and wielding increasing influence on growth and regional planning. The region is sometimes confused with “The Triad” which is the region directly to the west of the Triangle along I-40/85.
The primary three counties in the Triangle are Wake (Raleigh-Cary), Durham, and Orange (Chapel Hill) , officially named the Raleigh-Durham-Cary CSA. The population of the 8 county sub-region officially named the Raleigh-Durham-Cary CSA was 1,314,589 at the 2000 census.
The greater Triangle area encompasses a 15 county region all of which are shown in the map below.
click to enlarge 
Advantage Realty Group's primary coverage area includes Wake, Durham, Orange, Alamance, Person, Chatham and Lee counties. We will, however, assist clients throughout the Triangle region when a specific opportunity arises.
WHY MOVE TO THE TRIANGLE?
The Triangle has been consistently ranked one of the top 10 places to live and work year after year. What makes The Triangle such a great place to have a home?
The Triangle's success lies in a diverse and growing mix of people and cultures from all over the globe. Many are drawn to the area by highly skilled jobs, excellent universities and medical facilities. The region's ability to mix gracious southern hospitality with global sophistication and newcomer influences has created a climate of vitality and prosperity. There are trendy neighborhoods, charming small towns, great suburban communities to raise a family, lovely natural settings and urban hustle and bustle, centered around Raleigh, the State Capital.
The Triangle's housing market is stable and moderately priced compared to many other populated regions of the U.S. Industry is thriving and crime rates are relatively low. The weather is great with an average temperature of 60 degrees. Outdoor events are plentiful year round with numerous parks, outdoor amphitheaters, water sports and golfing. If sports are your passion, you will find top notch collegiate sporting events and several professional teams including NHL Hockey with the Carolina Hurricanes and minor baseball with the Durham Bulls.
World class educational institutions are many and the Wake Co. and Chapel Hill school systems are ranked highly. Due to the region's teaching/research hospitals, the physician to population ratio is five times the national average, making the area one of the healthiest in the country.
The Triangle area is conveniently located between the Appalachian Mountains and the beautiful North Carolina coast, all within a few hours drive. There is always something for everyone to do - arts, entertainment, museums, sports, community festivals and special events.
Come be a part of thoughtfully planned growth and a relaxed, but stimulating quality of life!
RALEIGH: Population 357,000 Located in Wake County
North Carolina’s capital city and second largest, Raleigh has the vitality and energy of a major metropolitan area, together with the friendliness and relaxed pace of a southern town. The city and encompassing region has a world-renowned reputation in the areas of biotechnology, telecommunications and computer hardware/software. It has one of the finest research universities in the country and is adjacent to two of the other finest. The unemployment rate has remained low in recent years. Raleigh continues to be considered a top place to live, work, and play not only by its residents, but also by nationally recognized magazines and organizations who have dubbed it one of the nation's "most livable cities".
visit the official city website CHAPEL HILL: Population 52,440 Located primarily in Orange County and also Chatham County.
Chapel Hill offers a prestigious quality of life that includes small town charm; an established sense of place and community; rich history and traditions; and the youthful exuberance and interchange of ideas fostered by the University.
There are also a number of very tangible assets, such as excellent schools and neighborhoods; a healthy downtown; a beautiful natural setting with trees, green spaces and a rural buffer; and other evidence of care for the natural and the man-made environments. Chapel Hill frequently receives accolades for being a top location to live, to visit, and to do business in. It has a city bus system that has no area rival which makes it easy to get around.
The University of Chapel Hill has a strong influence on the town atmosphere. Intellectual diversity is abundant and there is overall progressive and open political and cultural interchange. It is not inexpensive to live in Chapel Hill, even in the most modest neighborhoods, but other neighboring towns provide affordable alternatives for those who still want to be close for employment or other attractions.
Whether you are an avid music lover, theatergoer, poet, gardener, sports fan, or festival friend, there is always something going on in town. The arts abound in Chapel Hill, a community that values the ways that culture enriches our lives, helps define the unique and special qualities of the town, and teaches citizens about each other.
The Chapel Hill Town Council established the Town's Percent for Art Ordinance which allocates 1 percent of selected capital projects for the creation, fabrication/construction, installation, and maintenance of permanent works of public art. The Town Council also established the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission, a special commission of the Town with non profit status. The commission advises the Council on art-related matters and promotes public understanding and awareness of the arts. The following are a few of the cultural resources available to visitors and residents alike.
Festifall is an Arts & Crafts Street Fair. Festifall created by artists and craftspeople to celebrate originality, artistry, family and its diverse and exceptional artistic community. Artists and craftspeople from all over Orange County and surrounding areas bring forth a wondrous mix of pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, candles, toys, woodworks, fabrics & clothing. If you want something fantastic, original and unique for that special holiday gift, or just for yourself then bring you're wallet. If you don't ... you're going to wish you had!
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System is considered to be one of the best in the nation. Consistently ranking at the top of the state in student test, the System also boasts the lowest dropout rate in the state. The system consists of 16 schools: 9 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high schools and the UNC Hospital School.
The University of North Carolina is one of the main attractions in Chapel Hill for visitors and residents alike. The University (known as the "Tar Heels") is the oldest state University in the nation (1795) and offers residents of our community many amenities like concerts, plays, libraries, the planetarium, an art museum and sporting events.
The 729-acre central campus includes the two oldest state university buildings, Old East and Person Hall. Old East and Playmakers Theatre, an 1852 Greek-revival building are National Historic Landmarks.
The American Society of Landscape Architects selected the Carolina campus as one of the most beautifully landscaped spots in the country. That listing is among the praise affirming the charm of mighty oaks, majestic quadrangles, brick sidewalks and other landscaping synonymous with UNC.
UNC is considere the 5th best public university in U.S. News & World Report's 2006 "Best Colleges" guidebook. Affirmation as a national leader in student accessibility; 1st among public campuses and 10th overall in "Great Schools, Great Prices," based on academic quality, net cost of attendance and average student debt. 5th among publics for "least debt." 54% of course sections enrolled fewer than 20 students-a key UNC measure of excellence.
A "best value" among 81 schools chosen for "America's Best Value Colleges, 2006 Edition" by The Princeton Review/Random House for outstanding academics, relatively low costs, and generous financial aid packages. Carolina has appeared in this publication two years in a row.
visit the town's official website
DURHAM
visit the city's official website
CARY:
Cary, rated by Money magazine as one of the nation’s top five places to live has grown from a small sleepy town to a bustling suburban city in the past 30 years. visit the town's official website
APEX:
In 2007, Apex was named the 14th Best Place to Live in the USA by Money Magazine. In 1994 Apex was named the state's #1 Small Town in economic vitality by Business North Carolina magazine.
visit the town's official website
CARRBORO: Population 16,577 Located in Orange Co.
Carrboro, settled in 1882 around a railroad spur of UNC, was first known as West End because of its geographical location west of Chapel Hill. Incorporated in 1911 as Venable, the town made its final name change two years later in honor of Julian Shakespeare Carr, owner of the local textile mill. For the first fifty years after its incorporation, Carrboro remained a small mill town with a slow, steady pace of growth. In 1960, approximately 2000 people lived in the town. By the year 2000, the town's population had grown to over 16,000 residents owing in large measure to the fact that the UNC-Chapel Hill campus and Franklin St shops are just a short distance away.
Eight park or play facilities are conveniently located throughout the Carrboro community. From the 54 acre Anderson Community Park to the smaller neighborhood parks, Carrboro provides outdoor facilities for a variety of leisure experiences. You can enjoy the outdoors as you play horseshoes, tennis or softball, go fishing, take a walk or have a picnic.
The Carrboro Public Library opened its doors on May 1, 1995 and since that time has enrolled well over 1,500 patrons. The library has a large selection of new books, bestsellers and young adult/children's books. There are also Mac computers, color scanners and laser printers available for public use. Free library cards are available to Carrboro, Orange County and Chapel Hill residents as well as Town of Carrboro and Chapel Hill employees and Carrboro Public School System employees.
A favorite gathering spot in this small town is the area grocery coop, Weaver St. Market which boasts a wide array of fresh and organic foods to purchase or eat on the premises. There are a variety of galleries and other small shops nearby and an increasing number of in town residences for those who want to be close to all the activity of a college campus.
visit the town's official website
HILLSBOROUGH: Population 5,446
Located in Orange County with several thousand more in surrounding area.
The early history of North Carolina is documented by the many signs and historical markers which line Churton Street in historic downtown Hillsborough. But the past is the past and after a period of sleep Hillsborough has awakened to become the center of culture, entertainment and education envisioned by Paul Cameron and William Graham a hundred and fifty years ago. Not your ordinary small southern town, Hillsborough has lately been attracting some of the finest minds in the south who have made it their home. Located 12 miles from both Durham and Chapel Hill and 38 miles from Raleigh, Hillsborough is convenient to Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill and Research Triangle Park.
At the merge of interstate 85 and 40 between Durham and Greensboro, Hillsborough is an ideal location for commuters who want a laid back place to call home. Nicknamed the “Antique Capital of NC”, Hillsborough has an abundance of unique quality businesses from services to shopping. A wonderful retreat for thousands of yearly visitors and those looking to relocate to the area, its shady lanes, rolling hills, and local festivals add to the appeal. There are several quaint restaurants and a number of well known artists and writers make their home in the community.
The town, once the Colonial Capital of NC is rich in history with walking tours of historic sites, restored older homes, and a full scale replica of an Indian Village. Such events as our Candlelight tour and our Hillsborough Hog Day offer two great opportunities to enjoy our heritage and wonderful entertainment.
Considerable growth was anticipated for Hillsborough early in its history. In a letter to the Earl of Shelburne in 1767, Governor Tryon prophesied that Hillsborough would… “tend much towards the increase of the settlement of that part of the back country, as well as to civilize the inhabitants thereof. Its situation is upon a rich red clay soil… distant from the Virginia Line twenty five miles. It lies almost centrical to the towns of Halifax and Salisbury being one hundred miles form each and it on hundred and sixty miles N.W. Of Newbern and one hundred and ninety nearly north of Wilmington. Tho’ there is at present scare twenty families inhabitants (sic) I am of opinion it will be in the course of a few years the most considerable on an inland town in this province.” - Orange County 1752-1952 Curiously, most residents have preferred to keep its character intimate and folksy, but in the past couple years, there has been more willingness to spread out and cultivate new neighborhoods. Some of these are suburban, south toward Chapel Hill and others are north in where horse farms and estate homes dot the countryside.
The Eno River runs through town and a small mountain, one of those few remaining in the Piedmont region from long ago sits close by, providing pleasant hikes for nature lovers. Environmental issues are important here for such non profit groups as the Eno River Association who work to preserve vital natural resources.
visit the town's official website
HOLLY SPRINGS: Population 9,192 Located in Wake County
The Town of Holly Springs in southwest Wake County had its beginnings as a crossroads near springs of fresh water at a spot where holly trees were numerous. Travelers along the road from Raleigh to the Cape Fear River and on to Fayetteville or those traveling from Hillsborough to Smithfield stopped by the springs to quench their thirst.
The town remained fairly small, until the 1990's when commuters to nearby Raleigh saw the potential to live in an area that was lovely, and convenient. Holly Springs is only 15 miles to Raleigh and 6 miles to Cary. Today, 14,000 people call Holly Springs home and that number is projected to grow to about 25,000 in the next four to five years.
Education, public safety, and quality-of-life are perhaps the most important strategic goals for Holly Springs. The Bass Lake Park project - which will include a wonderful retreat center, boating activities, greenways, bike paths, walking trails, fishing and more - is just one example of the focus on park development.
If you're looking for a suburban home with a convenient yet off the beaten path, then Holly Springs is the place to look! With many of the homes nestled into rolling subdivisions, views are pleasing, and lots more spread out than some neighboring towns. There are a wide variety of single family homes available, from chalet-style to traditional sprawling ranch homes. Expect to spend around $128,000 for a 1,208 square foot home, and approximately $450,000 for a 4,000 square foot home. With so many choices, you are sure to find something you like. Land is also readily available in the area, and prices range depending on location and size.
Dense groves of pine trees, interspersed with dogwoods, azaleas and other flowering plants, dominate many of the area's handsome homesites. A variety of appealing architectural styles, and new and old homes, border parks, lakes and golf courses, or are aligned along quiet city streets.
This region is filled with new industries that have moved in, because of the proximity of Raleigh. With a wide range of products including apparel and fabrics, electrical components, injection-molded plastic parts, office furniture, foods and more, employment prospects are good for a person in any trade.
Holly Springs was ranked 22 on Money Magazine's Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2007!
In short, Holly Springs is a Town with an attitude - a good one and welcomes new residents to participate in its development.
visit the town's official website
MEBANE: Population 7284 with several thousand more in unincorporated areas
Mebane is conveniently located between Burlington and Chapel Hill in the eastern part of Alamance County and just over into Orange county. Originally named for Brigadier General Alexander Mebane, a member of Congress in the late 1700's, it is now one of the fastest growing communities in North Carolina with population soon to reach 10,000. Much of Mebane's current growth is due to it's friendly family-oriented atmosphere, small town ease and yet an easy commute to the university towns of Durham and Chapel Hill and the I-40/85 business corridor.
Mebane is known for its profusion of dogwoods, which light up the spring, giving rise to the Mebane Dogwood Festival. To manage its rapid growth over recent years, the city has hired a planner to coordinate new developments with both residential and commercial projects abounding. Construction workers are completing Deerfield Commons Shopping Center, located just of NC 119 and at least 500 new homes are currently on the drawing board. There are also many affordable older neighborhoods, a serene and popular golf course community called Mill Creek and lovely vintage houses that line the main streets leading to downtown. Increasingly popular with retirees as well, there are new town homes and patio homes in various price ranges.
The town has made frequent use of its arts and community center. Ball fields adjacent to the center are busy during football and baseball seasons and it is also the site of the Fourth of July fireworks. The facility serves as the hub for the various classes for all ages and a forum for a variety of entertainment and civic activities for town residents. Community growth has contributed to the construction of a new fire station. City council members are now considering additional facilities for the police department.
On the outskirts of town is Lake Michael, a popular fishing and boating spot. It is also home to one of the new local wineries on the Haw River Wine Trail.
Request my Free Greensboro, Burlington, Raleigh and Chapel Hill Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Greensboro, Burlington, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out... It's my job to know EVERYTHING about Greensboro, Burlington, Raleigh and Chapel Hill! Ask me any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...
Buying Land and New Construction >From the Ground Up Buying land is different from buying a home, because you must resolve issues relative to land use restrictions, utilities, access and easements before building. When you locate land that seems right for your house, visit the local planning department before making an offer.
Ask whether city sewer, water and electricity are available. If not, you will need to calculate the expenses of installing a well and testing the soil for a septic system.
The land will be zoned for residential, business, or agricultural purposes. Does the zoning permit you to build the house you want? Are there easements on the lot that will limit where you can build or how you can access the property? Ask about the long-range plans for use of the surrounding land. The land will be more attractive if the city intends to build a park or new school nearby. But if a six-lane highway or a waste treatment facility are in the city's future plans, you may decide to look elsewhere for a place to build your dream home.
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What might happen to the Empire State Building in extreme weather?
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The Empire State Building can sway several feet to either side when buffeted by a severe windstorm or rainstorm. |
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